Two-time NASCAR cup Champion Kyle Larson knows the inherent risks that come with his chosen profession. His quest to conquer “The Double,” participating and finishing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day, embodies the mental and physical dedication, support system, and in Larson’s case, weather luck, needed to pull off a feat few drivers have ever even attempted.
The results on both of his attempts at “The Double” were ultimately frustrating, considering he agreed to let a documentary crew film what he envisioned would be a triumphant feat. What bore out was something much more grounded, peeling back the curtain on team effort it takes to race 1,100 miles in two different cities with dramatically different vehicles. The capstone on this two-year odyssey is the film Kyle Larson vs. The Double, which is now streaming on Prime Video. It chronicles as much of the highs of Larson’s illustrious career as it does the lows, and how that emotional roller coaster impacts his family life.
Despite referring to the film as a “sad” documentary, Larson’s go at “The Double” clearly inspired Katherine Legge, who will become the sixth driver, and first woman, to accept the impossible mission. It’s the first time in 24 years a driver will attempt it in back-to-back years since Tony Stewart (2001) and Robby Gordon (2002).
Less than 24 hours after competing at Watkins Glen, Larson and NASCAR legend and Hendrick Motorsport co-owner Jeff Gordon made a pit stop at SPORT for a conversation and photo shoot in midtown Manhattan before making an appearance at Amazon’s upfront presentation to promote the film. Below is a condensed version of the conversation, edited for clarity.
SPORT: Jeff, I’m gonna start with you because in the documentary you talk about Kyle’s day job being chasing NASCAR’s Cup championship. What was your initial reaction when he came to you wanting to make history with the Double?
Jeff Gordon: You have to understand, Kyle is known for driving a lot of different types of race cars and staying very busy—and competitive—at it.
When he came to Hendrick Motorsports, he had hinted that if the opportunity ever presented itself, he’d love to do the Indy 500, which meant doing the Double.
I ran it by Rick Hendrick, and Rick was open to it, then got really excited about it and behind it. Then it became a reality.
Credit: Prime Video
SPORT: One of my favorite things about the documentary was how much of your personal life was included. Were you excited to bring your family into it, or hesitant to bring them into the spotlight?
Kyle Larson: No, not at all. They followed me for about three years, so naturally you’re going to get the family involved in it as well. The documentary touches on the sacrifice it takes to be a professional in any sport or business—trying to find the balance of family vs. chasing this dream of being a great race car driver.
I miss out on a lot of the things my wife and kids get to do that I wish I could be there for. It touches on that and I think that’s neat because fans see a race car driver like we have it all figured out, but we’re normal people at home too.
SPORT: Jeff, reflecting back on your 30-year journey with Hendrick since your first title, what does it mean to you to see Kyle become one of only 18 drivers to win multiple championships?
JG: I’ve followed Kyle for a long time, watching him come up through sprint cars and dirt racing. He was always at the top and doing well. We missed the opportunity to bring him into NASCAR and the Cup Series at Hendrick Motorsports when he first came into the scene. He went to [Chip] Ganassi [Racing] instead.
I’m so happy we got a second shot at it. We knew when a talent like Kyle’s gets together with a great team like we have at Hendrick, success is going to follow. It’s great to know those two championships have come at Hendrick, and I’m sure more will come in the future. I love the numbers and the stats, but you like to see big names and faces come in and take the sport to the next level. Kyle is one of those guys doing that today.
SPORT: It must be surreal for you, Kyle, growing up looking up to Jeff and now working alongside him.
KL: He’s my boss. It’s definitely crazy.
SPORT: I’m sure it supersedes the employer and employee relationship. What was it like watching that footage of Kyle wearing the Jeff Gordon gear as a kid?
JG: It definitely made me laugh. It made me feel really old too. His mom has documented so much of his life. I love that part of it. Seeing him have this dream of being a race car driver at such a young age. Even in IndyCar. We think of him as sprint cars and stock cars. To see him walk into school wearing a Jeff Gordon outfit was pretty cool — and also made me laugh.
SPORT: The newly named NASCAR CEO, Steve O’Donnell, says he wants to listen to owners, drivers, and other key stakeholders. What’s the biggest challenge for him moving forward?
JG: I think he has the right mindset. The sport has been through a lot the last few years, but we’re seeing great collaboration. It’s a unique sport, right? Not just racing in general but NASCAR between teams and tracks.
I love Steve’s passion for motorsports and NASCAR and the experience he’s had there. They’re doing the right things listening to drivers, teams, and fans about what’s on the horizon and how to grow the sport together, and I’ve been enjoying that so far.
KL: Steve’s been around forever, even before I’ve been in the sport. I do feel everybody’s working closer together than we ever. It’s good for us to have the same initiatives to grow the sport. Steve is a great guy to have in the role that he’s in.
SPORT: You got emotional after one of the wins shown in the documentary and spoke so highly about your team’s effort. How crucial is that team coming together to race at a championship level?
KL: I think that’s the neat thing about NASCAR. You see the car on the TV or even the pit crew. But there are hundreds of people at Hendrick Motorsports that all matter. To win a championship it takes everybody. Especially in the way the format was then. It came down to one final race at Phoenix. Everything mattered in that race.
That’s what made both of my championships extra special. At any point in the race, it took everybody. It encapsulates the whole season. The journey you go on to win a championship makes you really emotional. It’s cool to live through those experiences and hopefully there’s more in the future.
JG: He’s typically the ice man, so it’s cool seeing emotion come out of him in those moments.
SPORT: Kyle, you’re only 33, which is mind blowing considering how much you’ve achieved in the sport. Do you ever talk with Jeff about life after racing?
KL: I definitely observe. Obviously as we mentioned he was the guy I looked up to most as a young kid aspiring to be like Jeff Gordon. I would say I don’t aspire to be like Jeff Gordon after racing career because this guy is so busy.
He’s made millions of dollars, had this fancy life, and could live a much fancier lifestyle if he had gone away from the work and business side of the sport. It’s impressive to see how much effort he puts in outside of the car to make Hendrick Motorsports rise up year after year. I appreciate that. I just don’t have the business savvy he has to go into a similar role whenever I’m done.
JG: I never thought I’d be in this role either, so be careful. It might be in your cards.
Photo by Nick Morgulis (@nickmorgulisfilms) for SPORT.
SPORT: What would you want a casual viewer or someone who’s not a big NASCAR fan to take away from this documentary?
JG: It's the human element. What happens behind the scenes, not just to be a race car driver, but the sacrifices that [Kyle] makes, his family makes, the team makes, but also in this journey. The ups and downs. This rollercoaster ride of what it took to put two great teams together with Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren.
We had to get Kyle laps in the car and get comfortable, and then all the other logistics that goes into that to try to coordinate [the day]. How do you qualify for the Indy 500 and for the Coca-Cola 600? How do you race in Indianapolis and get to Charlotte and do 1,100 miles with weather and all these other obstacles are in the way? I love seeing him as a kid, how much he wanted to be a race car driver, and to see him on this journey of this dream that he always had to, to do the Double or do the Indy 500.
KL: And for me, I think I enjoyed the documentary a lot. I didn't enjoy living in the moment. A few things didn't go so well.
In the moment, I was just like, "Man, this is, you know, such a bummer. I didn't do as well as I wanted to." But I think that makes for an even better film because you have the drama, you have the emotion, stress, and toll that it took on me and the team and, and everybody involved in trying to make it happen. As Jeff mentioned, it was a roller coaster. That's what you need in a film, to have the viewer go on the journey with you and, and ride the wave with you.
So yeah, I thought they did a great job of capturing that and telling the story.